THE DOCTOR IS IN
OP / ED BY DR. ADIL MANZOOR
There are more than eight billion people in the world, and one of the rare shared experiences we have as far as medical conditions go is… headaches. Of course!
More than 96% of people on the planet will experience a headache at least once in their lifetime. For most people, these headaches only come occasionally. However, there are people who have headache disorders, which are characterized by recurrent headaches. The WHO estimated in 2021 that up to 40% (translating to 3.1 billion people) have headache disorders. Not all headache disorders are made the same, and one of the worst to have is a migraine headache.
You have most likely heard of migraine before. Scratch that, you may even have migraine attacks, considering that one in ten people have them. A migraine is a severe headache that can cause throbbing and pulsating pain on one side of the head. Migraine headaches are special in that they are often accompanied by other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, and other sensory symptoms. They may last anywhere between 4 and 72 hours (yes, three days).
Despite the best efforts of scientists and medical experts over the years, there is no cure for migraine headaches. So, if you have them, you will most likely have to deal with them your entire life. However, there are – fortunately – treatment options that can help reduce the severity and frequency of migraine attacks. As you may already expect, medications are the center of many migraine treatments.
Aside from your regular pain medications (like ibuprofen and diclofenac), many individuals rely on other medications like triptans, dihydroergotamine sprays, opioids, anti-nausea medications, antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, and even blood pressure medications. While some of the options may seem strange, just trust me when I tell you these options are the result of years of research. However, medications are not always the best options for managing health conditions, and this partly applies to migraines.
Generally, if a condition is chronic (that is, it lasts more than a year), medical practitioners are not so eager to rely solely on medications. This is largely due to the fact that all medications have side effects, and with time, these side effects may cause other problems in the body. This is also not to mention the fact that many patients may become less willing to use medications for a very long time, especially if they have the slightest inkling that these medications may be responsible for some of their other symptoms. For this reason, there is always a high premium on treatment options that do not revolve around medications, and a recent study has highlighted some of the best non-pharmacological options for managing migraines. I will very briefly go through them below.
For starters, physical activity or exercise. It’s really interesting how the non-pharmacological management of almost any condition includes physical activity. And, it’s really not a surprise, considering the several health benefits that physical activity has. Obviously, physical activity can improve overall health, but even more specifically for migraine headaches, physical activity can promote weight loss, which has been found to be an important step in reducing both the severity and frequency of migraine attacks.
To reap the benefits of physical activity, consider 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity activity every week. That is basically 30 minutes to an hour of moderate-intensity exercise (like brisk walking, cycling, swimming, and dancing) five days a week.
Second on the list is diet. Again, you must have seen this coming a mile away. Your diet is as important as anything to your health. There is no specific diet for migraine sufferers – so don’t go down the online rabbit hole of diet fads – instead, consider foods that can help you lose weight in a healthy manner. For instance, avoid foods high in fat and refined carbs, and increase your protein and unrefined carb intake. Honestly, the story of diet is pretty long, and everyone also has different needs, so ensure you talk to your healthcare provider before making drastic decisions about your diet.
Besides these two critical strategies, other important lifestyle modifications that can help manage migraines include avoiding alcohol and smoking, hydration with non-caffeinated drinks, stress reduction practices (preferably those based on the principles of mindfulness), good sleep hygiene, and a daily headache diary.
I must state that these strategies are not cures for migraine headaches, and you should not expect them to be miracle treatments that will magically reduce your migraine attacks to one per decade. However, they can still help reduce the severity and frequency of migraine headaches, however small. Also, these lifestyle modifications can help improve overall health, and that is always a plus in the management of any health condition. Stay safe.
This article was written by Dr. Adil Manzoor, DO, a Board-Certified Internist; Board certified Pediatrician who works as a Hospitalist and Emergency Room Physician. He is also the current President of Garden State Street Medicine, a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to provide free preventive and acute urgent care services for the homeless. He is also the co-founder of his own unique medical practice, Mobile Medicine NJ; House Call Doctors. He is also currently pursuing an Executive MBA and a Master’s of Science in Healthcare Leadership at Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management and the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences.
References
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8971279/
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/headache-disorders
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20360207
